text_original: But the Lombards produced no great leader with enough of the statesman in him to attempt the task in which Theodoric had failed. Perhaps in any case it would have proved impossible, for by the middle of the eighth century Italy was no longer free to shape INTRODUCTION 5 | her own destiny to supremacy.
text_transcription: BUT THE LOMBARDS PRODUCED NO GREAT LEADER WITH ENOUGH OF THE STATESMEN IN HIM TO ATTEMPT THE TASK IN WHICH THE OTTERIC HAD FAILED PERHAPS IN ANY CASE IT WOULD HAVE PROVED IMPOSSIBLE FOR BY THE MIDDLE OF THE EIGHTH CENTURY ITALY WAS NO LONGER FREE TO SHAPE HER OWN DESTINY TO SUPREMACY
phonemes: bˌʌt ðə lˈɑːmbɑːɹdz pɹədˈuːst nˈoʊ ɡɹˈeɪt lˈiːdɚ wɪð ɪnˈʌf ʌvðə stˈeɪtsmən ɪn hˌɪm tʊ ɐtˈɛmpt ðə tˈæsk ɪnwˌɪtʃ θiːədˈɔːɹɪk hæd fˈeɪld. pɚhˈæps ɪn ˌɛni kˈeɪs ɪt wʊdhɐv pɹˈuːvd ɪmpˈɑːsᵻbəl, fɔːɹ baɪ ðə mˈɪdəl ʌvðɪ ˈeɪtθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi ˈɪɾəli wʌz nˌoʊ lˈɑːŋɡɚ fɹˈiː tə ʃˈeɪp ˌɪntɹədˈʌkʃən fˈaɪv hɜːɹ ˈoʊn dˈɛstɪni tə suːpɹˈɛməsi.